The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-02-27
A HASTY DECISION.

her Wrnkled fOrehead ana snowy cap
tied under her chin; sad, quiet face; "a
patient mouth, with lines about it that
told of sorrow borne with gentle firm.
ness; and Two withered, tired hands,
crossed with a restful look. That wBs
all
Who, looking at the sleeping form,
would think Of love and romance, of a
heart only just healed of wound re-
ceived long, long ago1
Fifty years she had lived under that
roof-a farmers wife. If you looked on
The little plate on her cofin-lid yen would
see aged 20" there; and she was only
90 when Johu Phillips brought her home
8 tride.
A half century she had kept her care
full wa'ch over the dairy aud larder, bad
made butter add cheese, and looked after
innumerable duties that fall to the share
of farmers wife.
And John had never gone with button
less shirts or undarped socks; had not
come home to an untidy house and scold-
ing wife. His trim, tidy Martha had been
his pride; and though not demmon-
strative husband, he had boosted some
times of the model housewife that kept
bis home in order.
But underneath her quiet exterior there
was story that John never dreamed OF,
and would hardly have believed possible
had he been told, She did not marry Tor
love.
When she was 10,a rosy, happy girl,
stranger came on a visit to their little
village, and that summer was the brgh-
nd
Gardner was the strangers name; he was
an artist, and fell in love with the simple
village girl, and won her heart: and,
when he went away in the autumn,
they were batrothed.
"I1l come again in the spring." he
said. "Trust me, and wait FOR me,
Matte, dear"
She promised to love and wait for him
Till the end of the time, If need be, and
with kiss on her quivering lips he went
away.
Matte Gray did not tell herfather aud
mother of her love, for they had 70 liking
for city folks and had treated Paul none
too Hospitality when he ventured inside
their house.
Spring time ca me, and true to his word,
Paul returned; he staid only day or
two this time.
II am going away in few weeks to
Italy to study" he said. Il shalt be gone
two years, and then l shall Claim you for
my bride,
They renewed their VOWS, and parted
with tears and tender, loving words; he
put tiny ling on her finger and cut
a little curly tress from her brown hair /;
and, telling her to be always true and
wait for him, he went away.
The months went by, and Matte was
trying to make the time seem short by
studying to improve herself, so that sne
might be worthy of her lover when he
should return to make her bis wife,
1T must be about the time he is to
start she said to herself one day.
Aud by.and.by, as she glanced over a
newspaper her eye was attracted by his
name, and with white lips and diiated
eyes she read of his marriage to another.
:. married Taken another bride instead
of coming back to marry me! o, Paul,
PAUL. loved and trusted you for
thisp'
She covered her face with her hands
and wept bitterly.
An hour afterward as she sat there In
the twilight with the fatal newspaper
living on her lap, she heard a step on the
gravel walk; and, looking up, she saw
John Phillips coming up the steps. He
had been to see her often before, but he
had never yet spoken 'of love and had,
of course received, no encouragement to
do 3d. He was a plain, hardworking
farmer, with 80 romonee about him
but matter-of tact to the core. His wife
would get few caresses or tender words.
He would be kind enough would give
her plenty to eat and wear.
Now he seemed to have come for the
express purpose of asking her to be his
wife; for he took chair, and, seating
himself beside her, after the usual greet
ing, reserving scarcely moment to take
breath. began, In his businesslike way,
to converse. There was no confession of
love, no pleading, no hand clasping, no
tender glances; he simply wanted her;
would she be his wife? His manner was
hearty enough; there was no doubt he
really wanted her-would rather marry
her than any other woman he knew; but
that was all.
Her lips moved to tell him that SIZE did
not love him; but as she let her eyes fall
upon the crimson hearted rose that swung
from The vine over the window, she
caught sight of those few lines again.
Married p she said to herself. s1What
can | do? He doesn't ask me to love
him. If | marry MIN | can be true
wif9 to him. aud nobody will know that
Paul has Tilted me"
The decision was made. Her cheeks
were ashy pale as she locked up, straight
into his eyes, and answered quietly, YES,
/ will be your wife "
Her parents were pleased that she was
chosen by well-to,do young man. so it
was settled and they were married that
same summer People thought she
sobered down wonderfully; more than
that, nothing was SAID that would lead
any one TO suppose any change had taken
place.
Yes, she was sobered down. She
dared not think of Paul There was no